Permaculture in Africa: Deepening our Roots
The Permaculture in Africa (PIA) circle exists to create a space of support and connection for permaculturists coming to the CoLab from Africa. We are working on three connected pieces of work:
The first is reviewing and testing an onboarding guide that was developed last year and has since been updated to reflect the CoLab’s new community discourse space. The guide is designed to support smoother onboarding for CoLab members based in Africa, and is also relevant for members from the Global South more broadly, as well as those with higher accessibility or tech needs. The review process will involve testing the guide with real users and incorporating feedback to improve it.
The second piece builds on a local networks database that PIA developed last year. This database maps permaculture networks across Africa that can offer on-the-ground support to CoLab members, since the CoLab itself does not provide this. The work here is to move from a basic directory to active outreach: identifying key contacts, introducing them to the CoLab, and inviting them to join. We will also promote the database internally so PIA members know it exists and how to use it. The hope is this will strengthen our strategic connections and partnership allies across Africa.
The third piece is providing advanced onboarding and extra support for new members who come in through the outreach process, working alongside the Welcome Circle.
Team
Siobhan Vida Ashmole
Rogers Muthegheki
Mkhulu Colossa
Josie Redmond
Paul Phillips
Aimee Fenech – volunteering
Area
Emergent festival, Grow project
Objectives 2026
1. Onboarding Guide Review and Testing
Specific: Review the updated PIA onboarding guide for the new community discourse space, test it with at least 3 to 5 members from Africa or the Global South, and incorporate feedback into a revised version.
Measurable: One revised guide published by end of festival period, with documented feedback from testers.
Achievable: Guide already exists; team has capacity to coordinate testing and revisions within the festival timeline.
Relevant: Directly supports CoLab’s accessibility and inclusion aims, and reduces barriers to participation for members from the Global South.
Time-bound: Testing completed and revised guide published within the GROW Emergent Festival 2026 timeline.
2. Local Network Outreach
Specific: Identify key contacts within the existing local networks database, conduct direct outreach to introduce them to the CoLab, and sign up at least 5 new members from African permaculture networks.
Measurable: Number of outreach contacts made, number of responses received, and number of new CoLab sign-ups tracked.
Achievable: Database already exists; team members have existing relationships with local networks across the continent.
Relevant: Strengthens the CoLab’s African membership base and builds a more robust support structure for members on the ground.
Time-bound: Outreach initiated and first round completed within the festival period.
3. Internal Promotion of the Local Networks Database
Specific: Create and share at least one internal communication to PIA members explaining what the local networks database is, how to use it, and why it matters.
Measurable: Communication published in the CoLab’s community space, with engagement tracked (views, responses, or follow-up questions).
Achievable: Straightforward communication task within team capacity.
Relevant: Ensures the database is actually used and valued by the community it was built for.
Time-bound: Published within the first half of the festival period.
4. Advanced Onboarding and Member Support (ad hoc)
Specific: Provide dedicated onboarding support for new members coming in through the outreach process
Measurable: Number of new members supported tracked; support sessions or check-ins documented.
Achievable: Hours allocated for this within the festival budget; team has experience with onboarding support.
Relevant: Ensures that outreach converts to active, retained membership.
Time-bound: Support provided on an ad hoc rolling basis as new members come in during the festival period.
outcomes 2026
English 
French 
German 
Spanish